OklahomaHorses Magazine Nov/Dec 2020

November/December 2020 • OklahomaHorses 17 EQU I NE ART I S T S gift, but it took time and maturity to develop the confidence to pursue my artistic gift as a career. I think I always wanted to be an artist, but I was in my late 30s before I would even consider calling myself one. Q. WHAT TYPE OF ART EDUCATION OR INFLUENCE HAVE YOU HAD TO FURTHER YOUR TECHNIQUE AS AN ARTIST? A. My art education has come from a wide range of places. Starting with “how-to” books purchased by my parents when I was in grade school, followed by several good art teachers in school and progressing to more advanced books and visits to museums and galleries as an adult, I learned from a lot of influences. Later, I was fortunate to attend workshops and, at times, weekly painting and life drawing classes with a couple of talented local teachers, one of whom was Dennis Parker of Oklahoma City. Through the Prix de West exhibit at the Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum, I became familiar with the colored pencil work of Carrie Ballantyne and was fortunate to attend one of her workshops. Anytime I have the opportunity to spend time with her, she is always very generous to offer tips and advice about her techniques and materials. I would consider her a very large influence on my style, and what I learned from her helped me develop my own style of colored pencil artwork. Q. WHAT IS YOUR INSPIRATION AND PROCESS FOR CREATING ART, AND HOW DO YOU CHOOSE THE MEDIA YOU USE TO EXPRESS YOUR INSPIRATION? A. My inspiration usually comes from an experience I have had while riding and photographing at one of the ranches that I am fortunate to frequent. Sometimes, it is the skill at which someone completes a particular chore or the athleticism of one of the great American Quarter Horses they are riding. Other times, it is the light on an otherwise plain scene. The possibilities are endless in places like those. After deciding on the reference photos, I work out a detailed sketch. For simple pieces, this is done directly on the sanded paper substrate that I will be completing my work on. For more complicated compositions, I use vellum to work out my sketch and then transfer it to the less forgiving sanded paper. From there, I use many soft layers of colored pencil to build up the values and colors to complement my subjects. The reason I like to use colored pencil is that it allows me to share my subject, down to the tangle in a mane or the detail on a bit. It is all part of the story, and I hope it puts my viewers up close and personal with the subject I am trying to depict! Q. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ARTWORK YOU HAVE CREATED AND WHY? A. I have a lot of favorites for different reasons. Some, like “Noon Change” and “Swappin’ Stories With the Traded Help,” which were created from photo references from my first trip to the Tongue River Ranch, are favorites because of how special the experience was that day. “Cow Sense and A Lot of Heart” is a favorite because it features the pretty mare, Texie Callieroani, that I’ve been fortunate to own, show and now raise some colts with. “’Marty’ and the Albin Hackamore” features a pretty red roan and a beautiful hackamore bridle made by a very nice gentleman and talented braider, Billy Albin. Every picture has a story, and they are all special in some way. Q. HOW DOES SHOWING HORSES HELP YOUR ARTISTIC CAREER? A. My constant involvement with the horses is crucial to my ability to portray my subject in a believable way. Showing my American Quarter Horses has benefited my art career in many ways. I have developed friendships and connections with great, like-minded people who have generously encouraged and helped me. Some have been mentors and offered critiques while others have become collectors of my work. My entire artistic journey there has been one open door after another. And with every door I pass through, there seem to be friendships and experiences I would have never found without my gift. I will be eternally grateful for them all. Q. WHAT DO YOU WANT THE VIEWERS TO FEEL AS THEY EXPERIENCE YOUR ARTWORK? A. I want them to be able to feel the breeze that’s blowing the manes and the hot breath coming from a soft but whiskery muzzle, smell the sage and horses and cattle, or see an ear flick as you pass by. I hope my viewers can experience at least a little of what I loved about the subject that made me want to draw it in the first place! For more information, visit kathrynleitnerwesternart.com . “‘Marty’ and the Albin Hackamore” “Spring Works at the River Pens”